4x5 Film Holders

[HughC]

Getting back into 4x5 and would like recommendation on where and what brand of film holder to purchase.
Should I by new or used.
Thanks

[HughC]

Getting back into 4x5 photography and would like to know whether I should buy new or used, brand and source.
On the waiting list for a Chamonix 45F2 and can’t wait to get started again.

[Tin Can]

Buy the best you can afford

eBay

[HughC]

That’s what I’m thinking.
Being I’m starting over with a new camera might as well get new holders and put the odds in my favor.
Thank for the reply.

[Dugan]

Toyo holders are highly recommended.

[Drew Wiley]

Traditional Lisco or Riteway are just fine unless abused. Try to find the cleanest ones possible, if "pre-owned". 4X5 holders are still common.

[Lachlan 717]

Used Toyo.

[darr]

Several years ago, I bought a small stash of 4x5 holders from KEH (www.keh.com).
They were a mix of new-looking ones (they had film in them!) and a few older, used, but not abused holders.
They were cheap (about $5-$7 each) and are still working fine for a few years and many shoots later.
When I travel, I store them in Stone Photo cases to save some bruising because my 4x5 bag can sometimes get bumped around.

[Oren Grad]

Threads merged.

[Vaughan]

My experience: avoid older wooden holders. Buy a job-lot of 10 or more for a discount and expect that 2 or 3 will be leaky. I believe that later Lisco and Riteway were made by the same company. Note that 9x12cm and 4x5inch holders have the same external dimensions, check if buying from Europe.

(If you ever get into 5x7, the 5x7inch, 8x13 cm and 4¾x6½ half-plate holders all have the same external size.)